who we are

Susan Tracy, President

As President of The Strategy Group, Susan works with clients on strategic planning, communications and community relations.

Susan is widely respected for her ability to develop precise strategies that achieve a client's objectives by reaching out to targeted community members, media outlets and governmental officials with clear, concise and compelling messages. She is also an experienced manager who combines a keen eye for detail with her ability to successfully supervise and direct projects and teams of all sizes.

Susan was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1990, serving Allston-Brighton for four years. In her second term, she was appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee and named Vice Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture. In 1995, after working for 10 years in state and local government, Susan began her own consulting practice, Tracy & Company. The firm assisted political figures, non-profit organizations and private sector clients with strategic planning and community relations advice.

Prior to serving in the Legislature, Susan worked for the City of Boston, where she served as Director of the City's Emergency Shelter Commission, coordinating Boston's services for the homeless. Susan also worked as a member of the City's state relations team and coordinated statewide efforts for the Mayor of Boston.

Susan has managed a City of Boston Mayor's race and done extensive political work locally and nationally. In 1998, she ran for Congress from Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District. Susan won endorsements from a diverse group of constituencies and praise from a wide range of political observers.

Susan resides in Newton, MA. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Boston College.

David Newman, Vice President

As Vice President of The Strategy Group, Dave leads the community relations practice and is widely respected for his skill, attention to detail and tact when dealing with high profile and sensitive issues as they affect neighborhoods. He develops and implements public outreach strategies to build support for client objectives. He is also provides clients with message development for their projects and assists with public outreach.

A political operative known for his campaign development skills, Dave joined the firm in 1998 after managing Susan Tracy's 1998 campaign for U.S. Congress. Prior to that race, Dave served on U.S. Senator John F. Kerry's political committee, raising support for his 1996 & 1990 reelection campaigns. Working closely with the White House, Secret Service, finance committee and entertainers, he created and oversaw the largest political event of the campaign: a sold-out fundraising concert with the President at Boston's TD Garden arena.

In 1994 and 1995, Dave served as Director of Public Affairs at Boston Capital, a real estate investment firm which finances affordable housing across the country. He was responsible for counseling the company on public strategy, including political and charitable activities. Dave's political resume includes experience as Deputy National Finance Director for U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey's 1992 presidential campaign and Finance Director for a City of Boston Mayor's race. Additionally, he worked in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Dave graduated from Colgate University in 1989 with a major in Peace Studies. He grew up in Wayland, Massachusetts and resides in Boston's South End neighborhood.

Katherine Mainzer Director of Strategic Planning and Communications

Katherine Mainzer has over 20 years experience in public policy development, media relations and legislative advocacy. An innovative coalition builder and entrepreneur, she has led successful campaigns to reduce violence, prevent homelessness and develop jobs in distressed neighborhoods.

As Founder of Citizens for Safety, Kathie brought urban teens, police officers, community and media leaders together to create the landmark Boston Gun Buyback program which took over 3,000 guns off the streets and led to collaboration between police and residents. She also built a neighborhood coalition for community policing and better funding for youth prevention programs including the Streetworkers Program, the Peace League gang mediation program and United Youth of Boston, a teen newspaper. As Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless Kathie developed a statewide advocacy group of
homeless families and concerned advocates to educate city and state policy makers about how homelessness could be prevented and remediated.

In 1993 Katherine and colleagues opened a small restaurant in Hyde Square, Jamaica Plain as a neighborhood ecomonic development project. Through effective community building and marketing, the project helped lead the revitalization of a distressed neighborhood. Because of this project, fifty five permanent jobs have been created and over 2 million dollars a year is pumped into the local ecomomy. Serving on the Board of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, Ms. Mainzer lends her expertise to other small businesses and helps promote the development of affordable housing.

Katherine has extensive political campaign experience, including serving as Issues Advisor to Andrea Silbert for Lietenant Governor, Precinct Captain for the Patrick/ Murray compaign, Florida field organizer for Kerry for President, and founding Assistant Director for the Commonwealth Electoral Coalition.